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- Environmental Education Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - 2007 - June
- EEAB Meeting Minutes
June 7, 2007
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Members Present:
Lee Ann Landstrom, Chair (District 5); Brinkley Prescott (District 4); Mary Johnson (District 6); Susan Hankner (District 8); Pete Cleary (Citizen At-Large); Patty Selly (Citizen At-Large); Tracy Fredin (Citizen At-Large); Nate Meyer (U of M Extension); Jeff Ledermann (MPCA); Kim Benson-Johnson (Dept. of Health); Jon Fure (BWSR); Mark LaBarbera (DNR); Clark Erickson (Dept. of Education).
Members Absent:
Vacant (District 1); Michelle Kelly (District 2); Vacant (District 3); Vacant (District 7); David Weinand (Dept. of Agriculture); Cathy Moeger (MPCA); Karen Balmer (Board of Teaching); Mike Sullivan (EQB).
Staff:
Mike Kennedy, Staff Liaison (MPCA); Denise Stromme (MPCA); John Ikeda (MPCA); Kelly Miller (MPCA).
Lee Ann Landstrom, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:40 p.m.
Additions to the Agenda:
Bill Sierks (MPCA) will give an overview of the Minnesota Climate Change Project.
Denise Stromme will give the evaluation summary of the Minnesota Environmental Education Leadership Summit.
Approval of Minutes:
May 3, 2007, minutes approved with the following amendments:
In the "Sharing/What's happening in your EE efforts?" section, changed Brinkley Prescott's line to, "Brinkley Prescott is happy with the group that came out to the MAEE Conference."
Motion: Kim Benson-Johnson motioned to approve the minutes with the change noted. Pete Cleary seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Overview of the Minnesota Climate Change Project - Bill Sierks
Bill Sierks is a manager with Renewable Energy and Climate Change in the Prevention and Assistance Division of the MPCA. He is working with the Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG). The purpose of the 51 member CCAG is to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce Minnesota's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The goals of the CCAG include: to review and approve comprehensive inventory and forecast GHG emissions from 1990 to 2020; to develop a comprehensive set of policy recommendations to reduce GHG emissions and enhance energy and economic policy by 2020 and beyond; to develop and recommend a set of GHG reduction goals and targets for implementation; and to report to the governor by February 1, 2008. They believe that public education and outreach are critical to obtain these goals and target future generations. They are currently narrowing a full range (300) of possible actions and initial priorities and analysis and developing straw proposals. After the June 14, 2007, meeting they plan to have narrowed the priority items to ten. The website for CCAG is www.mnclimatechange.us. Bill thinks the EEAB should make suggestions regarding the education components.
Motion: Mark LaBarbera motioned to secure a facilitator to assist the EEAB in developing strategies to assist in outreach and development initiatives to CCAG. Susan Hankner seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Motion: Kim Benson-Johnson motioned to name Pete Cleary the EEAB liaison for work with CCAG. Susan Hankner seconded the motion. Motion passed. The role of the liaison is communication between CCAG and EEAB. The liaison role does not include decision-making.
Evaluation of the Minnesota Environmental Education Leadership Summit Conference on April 26, 2007 - Denise Stromme
Denise gave four handouts: "Minnesota Statute Language Session Summary", "A GreenPrint for Minnesota, 3 Statewide Priorities Session Summary", "Issues at the Tip of your Tongue Session Summary", and "Evaluation Summary (2)". In the fall, the Board will be looking into how to provide to the needs identified. PCA staff workplans may also include some of these ideas. A discussion was held regarding the Summit evaluation. Mike Kennedy added that an eight hour event at the end of August is being planned to develop leadership in the Environmental Education community. The EEAB will be kept up to date.
MPCA Spending Plan for Environmental Education - Mike Kennedy (for Cathy Moeger)
Mike reported that the proposed budget for EEAB support went through. The quarterly salary adjustment money was not there for ELM proposal because it was too late in the year. They will have to look at November for another quarterly salary adjustment. There are two major initiatives, these being the Greenprint measurement and the ELM. The EEAB should do a self-assessment on these two initiatives for Cathy Moeger. There was discussion on these initiatives and the salary savings. Mike noted that with leftover project money there were "fast action" items done in the school sector. These include the mercury reduction in classrooms (replacement thermometers, etc.) and the vending misers, which turn off vending machines at night. The MPCA is going through strategic coordination in its efforts with schools on environmental education. WE3 is also continuing.
Green Print Presentation - Mike Kennedy
Mike reported that six meetings were held around the state and a three month internet survey was done, both focusing on content and usability. A 56 page summary went to Mike and he went through what the summary indicated. The plan is to capitalize on the changing world since the year 2000. A discussion was held on GreenPrint. One point was to address the internet as an audience and a resource.
Break
GreenPrint Discussion and Content - Mike Kennedy
Sue Hankner had a handout called "EEAB Brain Storm List - Changes in the World in the Last Year - 2006/2007". A discussion was held on GreenPrint: what EE should look like in the future, the validity of the 4 outcomes, some formatting needs, and the audience it is focused towards. The EEAB should be able to comment as the "professionals". Sue suggested having a five member committee for GreenPrint. The GreenPrint is the EEAB's document and we need to be able to state what environmental education is and define it for Minnesota. Nate Meyer agreed with this point and said there should be education focused on the future and not just today because this document will be used in the future. We must think about how we use this document. Most comments were suggesting to slim it down because it is too complicated to follow. Nate suggested assigning a few EEAB members to work with Mike of editing the GreenPrint document. Mike said he mostly needs support with the content, and to look at each section individually. We also need to think about how to get the word out. It would be great to have the legislature take action on it on Earth Day 2008. It might be possible to slim the document down by adding factsheets or putting more of the information on the internet (possibly the SEEK website). There will be a comment period after the GreenPrint is compiled.
Lee Ann summarized the five issues that rose from the discussion:
1. Are the four state-wide outcomes real? Do we agree?
2. Who is it for?
3. What is our vision?
4. Focus on audiences versus settings/location in layout.
5. Audience outcomes - consolidate bullets? - sample indicators?
Nate Meyer offered to create an online survey for all board members to solicit more opinions on these questions.
It was stressed that EEAB should work closely with the commissioner to keep him informed and make sure he is in approval all through the process. Also, remember that other state agencies use the GreenPrint for approval of their budgets. If EEAB works closely enough with the commissioner, even if the document is not completely finished, he and other agencies can set up money in their forthcoming budgets.
Lee Ann asked who would like to be a member of the GreenPrint task force. It was decided these members would be Patty Selly, Sue Hankner, Nate Meyer, Mike Kennedy and Denise Stromme. A conference call will occur on June 25.
Next Meeting - Lee Ann Landstrom
The next EEAB meeting is scheduled for July 12, 2007, at 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in room 2A and 2B of the MPCA building. The meeting after this is scheduled for August 2, 2007.
Old Business
None.
New Business
A thank you bouquet was sent to Su Beran on behalf of the Board.
Mike Kennedy is trying to address the MPCA's environmental education issues. There are currently 3.5 FTEs at the MPCA and state-wide working on environmental education. The MPCA will be going through many internal changes in the future.
Sharing/What's happening in your EE efforts?
Brinkley Prescott said that MAEE is working on ELM structure contract. They are working on next year's conference as well and the theme is "diversity". There will be more discussion and they need a conference coordinator. Please let her know if you know of anyone interested.
Sue Hankner went to Washington D.C. to lobby for wind energy and transportation bonding. The Citizens for Renewable Energ, Education and Development CREED are mostly focusing on teacher workshops.
Mike Kennedy is administering a grant on best practices for environmental field days (with UM Extension). It will produce an assessment tool for effectiveness and a training video.
Nate Meyer is training with project wet. There are three new staff at the U of M Extension who will be involved with environmental education.
Jeff Lederman said that if anyone knows schools that would be interested in solar panel installations, please let him know. They must complete an energy assessment to be eligible. In his next budget request, he is asking for money for a litter prevention campaign.
Note the date change!! Next EEAB meeting is July 12, 2007, at 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. in 2A and 2B of the MPCA.
Motion: Pete Cleary moved to adjourn meeting, and Mary Johnson seconded. Lee Ann Landstrom adjourned the meeting at 3:30 p.m.- For more information, contact:
Mike Kennedy
Staff Liaison
Environmental Education Advisory Board
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Phone: 218-529-6258
mike.kennedy@state.mn.us- Posted: 7/23/07
- Revised: 8/28/07
- EEAB Meeting Minutes
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